Garhwali, Kumaoni, Himalayan Literature

Jeevanand Shriyal : A Garhwali Poet of Depicting Rural Garhwal
Bhishma Kukreti

Jeevanand Shriyal is famous for his poems on the subject of agriculture, farming, farmers, social and religious life style of rural Garhwal specially the life of rural Tihri Garhwal. Shriyal created poems based on the lyric style of Sanskrit. Jeevanand is a famous Garhwali language singer of Garhwal too. Most of of his poems are directive and with touch of inspiration.
Jeevanand Shriyal was born on 24th May, 1924 in a village Jakhnyali, Patti -Bailchami of Tihri Garhwal, Himalaya. Shriyal did not get any higher education but is capable of creating songs and sing the songs in various types of conferences in Garhwal region. Shriyal awarded by many social organizations, eminent individuals and institutions for his singing and creating Garhwali language related to the people of rural Garhwal.
Jeevanand Shriyal is a social activist too and is attached to Chipko Andolan .
Jeevanand Shriyal published three books of Garhwali poetry collections -- Gadh Sahitya Sopan -I (1966), Gadh Sahitya Sopan II (1969) and Gadh Sahitya Sopan III. Akashvani has been broadcasting poems of Jeevanand regularly . Jeevanand is prominent figure of Kavisammelans (poetry reading conferences) in Garhwal and Dehradun. Regional periodicals also has been publishing the poems of Shriyal.
Jeevanand Shriyal uses conventional style for creating Garhwali poems and they are with versatile subjects of life and life styles of rural Garhwalis specially farmers and farming. The words in his poems are simple and with touch of Tiryali dialects . Jeevanand Shriyal touched many subjects of new changes coming in the society and rural Garhwal too. In many poetries, Shriyal has also compared the old life style and new life style of rural Garhwal

Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti, Mumbai, India 2009